Dive Brief:
- Almost a quarter of millennials have worked for five different employers, according to new research. And when that generation changes jobs, it's often because they feel underutilized, stagnant, stressed out and bored at work, the O.C. Tanner report says.
- As the number of jobs increased, so did those feelings, according to the research. Other key survey results show that among millennials who worked at five to seven organizations, 34% didn't trust their direct manager; 31% said their organizations don't set goals; and 48% said their organization thought only about profits.
- To keep millennials on board, O.C. Tanner recommends that employers take an interest in employees’ overall wellbeing, recognize their contributions, open communication channels with leadership and provide opportunities for all employees to make a difference.
Dive Insight:
Feelings of boredom, underutilization and stagnation often are engagement problems, and they're not limited to millennials.
Challenging assignments, development opportunities, recognition for a job well done, opportunities for advancement and a focus on well-being can help employees of any generation connect with an organization, support its mission and remain productive.
Employees who aren't engaged can be costly: One study estimates that one-third of American employees are disengaged from their work at a cost to employers of $450 to $550 billion dollars per year. And, as the O.C. Tanner study and others show, when engagement is low, turnover often is high. In this job seekers' market, employers can't afford to ignore engagement.
